Raspberry Software update TrueConnect to version 3

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Raspberry Software, friends of MoDaCo and developers of the hugely popular 'TrueConnect', have updated the application to version 3, with a number of significant improvements!

In their own words...

True Connect is an exciting new way to control your Windows Mobile device when its plugged in! Simply drag your mouse off the side of your monitor, and it appears on your phone. Now you can click on the menus, controls and applications in an intuitive, natural way. It even works for non-touch screen devices! Of course, you can also use the PC keyboard to type, copy and paste information.

Can't see your device screen without holding it up? No problem - just use On-Screen Connect to show your device screen on your PC. It slides in when you need it, tucking neatly out of the way when you don't.

New to version 3.0 is SMS Text Messages in Microsoft Outlook. Read, send, forward and manage your text messages just like your email.

Download True Connect, and try it free for 14 days. You'll see for yourself how easy it can be to do your phone calls, text messages, applications and just about everything else on your mobile.

Version 3 is a FREE upgrade to all users of version 2, and a reduced cost upgrade for users of version 1.

When we originally reported on TrueConnect back in December 2005 we concluded that it was a must have piece of software, and with the new features that are appearing in each version, that sure hasn't changed. The most significant change in version 3 is the ability to manage your SMS in Outlook on your desktop... i'd buy it for that alone (if I hadn't switched to Mac, DOH!) :D

A 14 day trial is available from the TrueConnect product page, after which it will set you back $29.99 / £14.99 / €22.40 ($15.00 / £7.50 / €10.00 for upgraders). A video showing the application in action is included below for your pleasure.

Give it a go and let us know how you get on!

P

[Guest Monolithix]

Using the mouse on the device itself is a little...odd, but having the screen tab would be useful i think. Better if you could use it over the internets :D

The SMS integration looks like it actually might work too...

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Using it over the internet would be awesome, but hard due to the way the networks are set up.

Raspberry - your next challenge... :D

P

[Guest hotphil]

I love TrueConnect and the SMS integration really is cool. Only problem is that it is not yet compatible with Outlook 2007 running on XP. The other features work still work well.

[Guest pete_at_raspberry]

Glad you like it!

Over the 'net is tricky. Maybe one day...

We are looking at supporting 2007 on XP. We didn't support it out of the gate in order to get the release out sooner - we went for what we hoped were more popular combinations (2003 and XP, 2007 and Vista). I can't officially say that we support it yet, but the testing is going well so I'm hopeful that its going to be quietly added without any code changes.

Any comments on the video? We wanted to do something a bit unusual to get the message out there.

Regards

Pete

[Guest hotphil]

Glad to hear there may be support for the combination I'm using - I'll keep my eye out! Not had a chance to play the video yet.

To anyone thinking of using this software - go for it. Here's why I find it useful:

I have my Kaiser in a cradle on my desk, it's great to just be able to swing the mouse over to the right and operate all phone functions without having to take phone out the cradle and press buttons. For me, I use it as an additional PC monitor running a mobile client for some server monitoring software I use (Paessler IPCheck) - I effectively get an extra screen just to show me server alerts etc.

The SMS integration with Outlook is awesome for much the same reason - send/reply/reply via email to SMS without having to lift phone out of cradle. And of course, be able to compose SMS on a fullsize QWERTY helps!

[Guest Monolithix]

I've had a quick play this morning, looks great so far. I think the "on screen" mode is a little more useful than remote control, each to their own though. I'm also loving full screen mode :( Not had chance to look at the Outlook sms'ing yet though.

The video is a great idea Pete, certainly shows the app of a lot better than a crummy animated gif! :D

[Guest Kimbie]

How does the intergrated Outlook SMS feature, work with the threaded SMS in WinMo 6.1?

Kimbie

[Guest shootydogthing]

any chance of this being free for Plus members? It might make me join Plus...

[Guest Monolithix]

Threaded SMS seems to sync ok, although it's not done any of my texts from today...and it didn't want to send the sms i created, it just sat in the outbox (on 6.1, Vista+OL2k7). Will have another play later...

[Guest greenturtle]

Trueconnect is IMHO one of the best pieces of software around. I've been using it since I got my C550 and it's just great.

[Guest petec500]

I love this software!! It's fantastic! Perfect for me at work when i need to send a text or play with some settings, move some files or whatever without making it obvious to my boss that i'm faffing about with my phone! Just being able to send texts with a proper keyboard is worth it alone in my view.

Very, very neat app! Must have.

The video on the top post sold it to me, but having played with it for real, it just gets better.

[Guest pete_at_raspberry]

Hi all

We are now changing the Raspberry website to state that True Connect 3.0 now supports Outlook 2007 on XP! :D So either of Outlook 2003 / 2007 on either of XP / Vista is fine. Any problems you may get are down to something else instead... Do let us know if you get issues, and we will do our best to resolve them!

Best Regards

Pete

[Guest hotphil]

I am SOOOO there. Thanks for the extra work you guys have put in. I'll post any feedback I have!

[Guest hotphil]

Cool. I uninstalled 3.0.1.0, rebooted, downloaded the new 3.0.3.0 and installed it. It's retained my license information which I was worried about. And I've successfully composed and sent an SMS from Outlook 2007 on my XP machine. Excellent. I am now a very happy bunny. Thanks to RaspberrySoftware for doing the work to support the Outlook 2007-XP configuration, you've made my day.

[Guest pete_at_raspberry]

I'm glad you like it!

Thanks for the positive feedback - we really do appreciate it!

Pete

[Guest hotphil]

The only slightly negative feedback is that the Check for Updates function did not advise that version 3.0.3.0 was available. I figured the one on the download link from the site would be a new build which was why I uninstalled, rebooted, downloaded and installed the new version. If it's not something you're already aware of, the Check for Updates function might be worth checking over. Also, you may already be on it, but I'd look at updating the TrueConnect page of the website and/or its support section to make it clear there's a new build out. Just my thoughts!

[Guest pete_at_raspberry]

Yeah, good spot.

Truth is, we are working on 3.0.4.0, which will fix some problems for a small number of users, and we hadn't got around to updating the 'new version' part of the web page. We'll do soon, promise!

Pete